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Identification and Creation

Object Number
1912.44
Title
Fragment of Concrete from Chur, Switzerland
Classification
Material Specimens
Work Type
material specimen
Date
2nd century BCE-3rd century CE
Period
Roman Imperial period
Culture
Roman
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/293294

Physical Descriptions

Technique
Assemblage
Dimensions
7.5 x 5.5 x 4.1 cm (2 15/16 x 2 3/16 x 1 5/8 in.)

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of The Misses Norton
Accession Year
1912
Object Number
1912.44
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
Chunk of Roman concrete with large inclusions. Cement is darkened in color and has one large rock that runs almost the entire length of the chunk. There are smaller pebbles included in the cement on the opposite side of the large rock.
Commentary
LIVE LIKE A ROMAN: DAILY LIFE OBJECT COLLECTION

The Romans were the first to develop and use concrete. They started using it in construction during the Republic, during the second century BCE. Concrete is a mixture of cement, which acts as the binder, and an aggregate, which could be any material ranging from rocks to tiles. The cement was often hydraulic, meaning it was mixed with water and hardened over time. The Romans even knew how to use concrete under water, and examples of this type of architecture can be seen in the city of Caesarea. One of the most famous uses of Roman concrete is the Pantheon in Rome, which was built in 126 CE.

[Jessica Pesce 8/18/2010]

Verification Level

This record was created from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator; it may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu